Report: Fred Davis, Trent Williams on the list of players who testing positive

Posted by Mike Florio on November 13, 2011, 12:15 PM EST

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Typically, the names of players who receive only fines for violations of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy are never revealed, due to the confidentiality of the process. Once a player is suspended, however, word of the move inevitably surfaces.

With 10 players facing fines for violating the recreational drug policy and another one facing a fine and a suspension after testing unexpectedly began following the lockout without a grace period, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that two of the players who tested positive are Redskins tight end Fred Davis and Redskins tackle Trent Williams.

Fully cognizant of the fact that it’s bad form to speculate about a reporter’s sources, these reports make me wonder whether and to what extent someone from the Redskins has blabbed. Under ordinary circumstances, that wouldn’t matter. But with the league’s drug-testing policies carrying a fine of up to $500,000 for violations of the confidentiality provision, the possibility that the info came from the Redskins could cause someone to land in a pot of bubbling water.

I know this story will garner some good jokes, but casting those aside for a moment…

… Mike, as much of a champion you’ve been (and continue to be) for the cause of concussions in the league; I’d like to see what you can find out about the use of prescription pain meds amongst these men.

I know that in a week of some incredible games it’s not a pleasant topic; but the price these guys pay for our enjoyment is significant. I don’t say this to lay guilt or blame or any such thing; I’m just making the point that before you put these guys who pop positive for a “substance” into a box of “oh he’s just some young, dumb, rich, (mostly) black kid / fool” keep in mind you don’t know the whole story.

Obviously a good number of these are popping for recreational marijuana use, but it wouldn’t surprise me to find out (after Mike and his colleague’s research) that prescription pain med use/abuse is off the charts high.